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Contemporaries to covet in January – & giveaway!

People, it’s 2013. Can you believe it? You know what that means? We have a whole year of wonderful new books to look forward to. I can’t wait.

The first Monday of every month, I do a special giveaway. I tell you about the contemporary romance novels that are coming out that month that I’m most looking forward to reading (or have read advance copies of and can highly recommend). I ask you to tell me what you’re coveting, and one lucky commenter will win a $10 gift certificate for herself and for the author she mentions. What better way of showing our love to our favorite authors than by helping them read more, too?

Giveaway details are below, but here are the contemporary romance novels I’m craving in January. It’s going to be a great (though possibly expensive) month for contemporary romance!

The best thing between Oliver Barrett and Mackenzie Williams is a fence. Ever since Oliver’s new-neighbor gestures were met with unfriendly responses, he’s decided to keep his distance. After all, he’s in this seaside town to get his life on track again. That doesn’t include working hard to get on Mackenzie’s good side—no matter how intriguing she may be.

His intentions are put to the test, however, when his dog becomes infatuated with hers. The two crafty canines do their best to break down the barriers between the properties. And where the dogs go…well, the humans must follow! It doesn’t take long for a powerful attraction to build between Oliver and Mackenzie. They soon discover that the worst of first impressions can lead to the best possible outcomes….

My two cents

I love Sarah Mayberry’s books, and at 85,000 words this is a longer Harlequin Superromance than she’s ever written, so I’m really looking forward to seeing what she’s done with the extra space to stretch herself.

What woman can resist a hot man in a hard hat? Beloved author Ruthie Knox kicks off her new Camelot series with this deliciously sexy original novella, in which a good girl learns how to misbehave…with all her heart.

As program director for the Camelot Community Center, Amber Clark knows how to keep her cool. That is, until a sudden tornado warning forces her to take shelter in a darkened basement with a hunk of man whose sex appeal green lights her every fantasy. With a voice that would melt chocolate, he asks her if she is okay. Now she’s hot all over and wondering: How does a girl make a move?

Building contractor Tony Mazzara was just looking to escape nature’s fury. Instead, he finds himself all tangled up with lovely Amber. Sweet and sexy, she’s ready to unleash her wild side.

My two cents

Ruthie Knox is a new novelist who quickly won my fangirldom with her debut Ride With Me. I loved her Christmas novella, Room at the Inn, so I know she can work wonders with a shorter format (How To Misbehave is a short story). I look forward to reading a series by her.

Dallas TV morning show host Madelyn Cornish is poised, perfect, and unflappable, from her glossy smile to her sleek professionalism. No one knows that her iron will guards a shattered heart and memories of a man she’s determined to lock out. Until that man shows up at a morning meeting like a bad dream: Billy Wilkins, sexy hockey superstar in a tailspin—still skating, still fighting, and still her ex-husband.

Now the producers want this poster child for bad behavior to undergo an on-air makeover, and Billy, who has nothing to lose, agrees to the project. It’s his only chance to get near Maddy again, and to fight for the right things this time around. He believes in the fire in Maddy’s whiskey eyes and the passion that ignites the air between them. This bad-boy heartbreaker wants a last shot to be redeemed by the only thing that matters: Maddy’s love.

My two cents

I first came across Maddy and Billy’s story in the Naughty & Nice Christmas anthology, where they’re young, in love, and planning to get married. Later in the anthology, there’s a sneak preview of Crazy Thing Called Love where you get to see how their marriage crumbles. The story totally hooked me, and I’m eager to see how they put their marriage back together! I’m such a sucker for a reunited spouses story.

Giveaway!

Answer at least one of the questions in bold below. By “contemporary romance” I mean romance between human beings set in the present day. It can be romantic suspense, inspirational, erotic, category-length, novellas or whatever.

I’ll randomly choose one winner on Tuesday January 15th. That person will get a $10 gift certificate to the online book retailer of their choice, AND I’ll send the same to the author they mention.

If the winner mentions more than one author, I’ll ask her to choose which one gets the gift certificate.

This is open internationally.

Questions: What contemporary romance novel(s) being released in January are you looking forward to? Have you read anything by the authors I mentioned? Which of their books do you like best?

I have read all these authors and eagerly await each new book. I have been with Ruthie since her first book but just “discovered” Sarah, so I have catch.up books to.read. all three books are on my wish list. Thanks for the giveaway!!

I’ve read and loved books by Molly O’Keefe and Ruthie Knox before and have been looking forward to their new releases. Haven’t ready Sarah Mayberry yet, but it sounds like I need to give this book a read. The other books I’ve been anxious for this month are Aftershock by Jill Sorenson, Shades of Gray by Maya Banks – both of which I’ve already devoured and loved. Am still waiting for the new Shannon Stacey and Brenda Novak books this month. Feels like I’m forgetting some, but it’s really cold outside here in Jan., so I’m sure I’ll have plenty of reading time and will find plenty of books to fill those hours.

I have Ruthie’s book on pre-order – she is an autobuy for me. I just read Can’t Buy Me Love by Molly O’Keefe over the holidays and enjoyed it and I read the prequel to this one in the Naughty & Nice anthology (it had Ruthie’s latest story in it, so of course I bought it LOL). The prequel was good and the first book in this series, Can’t Buy Me Love, was very good, so I’m interested in reading Crazy Thing Called Love. I haven’t tried Sarah Mayberry yet, but everyone raves about her books and I picked up Within Reach from Harlequin last month when it was offered for free, so I’ll be giving her a try also.

I’m especially looking forward to The Other Side of Us by Sarah Mayberry. Of the 3 authors listed, the only one I have read is Molly O’Keefe, and that was a story in the “Night Before Christmas” anthology. Thank you for the giveaway!

I always look forward to Sarah Mayberry’s books and I’m very lucky to have read an advanced copy of How To Misbehave and it’s something every contemporary fan should pick up. Honestly, sweet and very sexy. A little sad, lots of funny. It’s a winner.

Also looking forward to some other Superromance Act of Persuasion by Stephanie Doyle is a great book. And Julie James new one.

I’m looking forward to Molly O’Keefe’s Crazy Thing Called Love! She’s a “new to me” author. I picked up Can’t Hurry Love at the library a few weeks before the holidays started & LOVED it! I purchased Naughty & Nice as soon as I finished Can’t Hurry Love.
Thanks for the book recommendations. I’ve never read anything by Ruthie Knox, but plan on checking out her books now.

I actualy haven’t read anything by the authors above, but some of their stuff is on my TBR list! I just read a new January release by Carly Phillips – Perfect Fit. I was really looking forward to this one, as I have loved the whole Serendipity series, and it didn’t disappoint! Also, True Love at Silver Creek Ranch, by Emma Cane. I really liked the first book, A Town Called Valentine.

In January I’m looking forward to Dealing Her Final Card by Jennie Lucas 😀 I love her books. Really can’t wait to read it.
I only had read Ruthie Knox among those three, I read About Last Night and liked it.
I haven’t read Sarah Mayberry and Molly O’Keefe yet, although I have one of Mayberry books in my shelf.Izz recently posted..Susan Heim on Writing: The Learner Book Tour: Giveaway for a $50 Amazon G…

Some of the contemporary romance novels being released this month that I’m looking forward to read are: How To Misbehave , All Grown Up by Janice Maynard, Be Mine- an anthology with stories from Jennifer Crusie, Victoria Dahl and Shannon Stacey.
I’ve read every book Ruthie Knox wrote so far and my fav is About Last Night.
I also read a short story by Molly O’Keefe in the anthology Naughty and Nice: Three Holiday Treats.